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March 23-24: Get ready for round two of closures at S Massachusetts St & 23rd Ave S.

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This weekend, March 23-24, our work continues from last weekend at the 23rd Ave S and S Massachusetts St intersection to replace the existing concrete panels on S Massachusetts St as part of the larger 23rd Ave Corridor Improvements project. This weekend we’re completing the second half of the project and replacing the concrete panels on the east side of the intersection. Our goal is to improve safety and mobility for people who drive, walk, bike, and take transit in this area.

Here’s what you can expect:

 

S C H E D U L E

This weekend we’re focusing on the east side of the intersection. Starting at 7 AM on Saturday, we’re closing the east leg of the 23rd Ave S and S Massachusetts St intersection to dig up and remove the old concrete panels, then form, and pour new ones. The road will stay closed Sunday to allow the concrete to cure and will return to normal on Monday, March 25, at 5 AM.

 

C L O S U R E  |  D E T O U R

The east leg of the 23rd Ave S and S Massachusetts St intersection will be closed. For the duration of the closure, motorists will be detoured to the arterial. Local access will be maintained along S Massachusetts St between 23rd Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S.

 

N O I S E

We’ve obtained a noise variance to start work at 7 AM on Saturday. Neighbors will see and hear construction activity throughout the weekend. Thanks for your patience!

 

Want more information about this project?

Visit our website!

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the project team at 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov or call the project information line at 206.727.8857.

 

 

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Mar 26 – Apr 5: We’re removing asphalt along Wilson Ave S to prepare for repaving.

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We’re making progress on the Wilson Ave S Transportations Improvement Project! The 2.5 miles of Wilson Ave S between S Dawson St and S Morgan St will be repaved to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users. Plus! We’re also installing a new protected bike lane.

From March 26 to April 3, 2019, we’ll be grinding the top several inches of asphalt on Wilson Ave S so we can repair the base of the street. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

 

S C H E D U L E

Our work hours will be from 6 AM – 10 PM on Tuesday, March 26 through Wednesday, April 5. We’ll work to minimize disruptions as much as possible. This includes weekend work. Grinding may take about 9 days to complete.

 

March 26

We plan to grind the east side of Wilson Ave S starting at Seward Park Ave S and then move north to S Dawson St.

 

March 27

Next, we’ll grind the west side of Wilson Ave S starting at S Dawson St and then move south to Seward Park Ave S. Any remaining work will be completed on Thursday.

 

Street repairs

During this work, we’ll make additional repairs to the road, including casting repairs, concrete base repairs, and asphalt base repairs. This work will be noisy.

 

Paving work

Paving work is scheduled for April 3 to 5, following the grinding work. This work is weather dependent and could potentially push back to the week of April 8. Once paving is complete, temporary striping will be installed.

 

C L O S U R E S,  A C C E S S,  &  D E T O U R S

While we’re working, Wilson Ave S will be closed to northbound traffic.

  • If you’re driving northbound on Wilson Ave S, you’ll be detoured to Seward Park Ave S between S Morgan and S Dawson streets (peek below map).
  • If you’re driving south on Wilson Ave S, we may use cones to shift which lanes you drive to allow for work to be conducted. Thanks for your patience!

Turns will be limited to/from driveways and side streets on the side of Wilson Ave S where grinding takes place. Driveway access may be disrupted for 30 to 45 minutes as our grinding machine passes. Access to Wilson Ave S from S Graham St will be closed. Please use 52nd Ave S.

 

P A R K I N G  

On-street parking will be closed on both sides of the street, 24/7 for the next several weeks. Drivers will only be permitted to turn right off of 25th Ave NE.

Access for cars for people walking will be maintained when parked in driveways and on side streets; please use designated crossings for your safety (S Morgan St, S Orcas St, and S Dawson St).

 

N O I S E

You can expect loud noise, dust, and vibrations while crews are working.

 

P R O J E C T  O U T C O M E

We’re repaving approximately 2.5 miles of Wilson Ave S between S Dawson and S Morgan streets. Repaving will make the street more comfortable to drive on and extend its useful life. The project will also:

  • Install or upgrade curb ramps to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Replace traffic detection loops that control the signals
  • Repair and replace some sections of sidewalk in the project area
  • Bring storm drainage into code compliance where triggered

 

Want more information?

For more information on this project, please visit our project page. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the construction outreach team at WilsonAve@seattle.gov, or 206.256.5232.  Again, thank you for your patience during this work.

 

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CHAPTER 1 #SeattleSqueeze Data: Less driving, more transit, more biking!

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Image courtesy of Chun Kwan, SDOT.

Approximately 250,000 people commute to and through downtown each day. With the new SR 99 tunnel now open, we’ve been analyzing the data from the closure to understand what went well, how we could have done better, and how we can keep the good changes going during the next chapter of the #SeattleSqueeze. Our entire region came together to take on this challenge and be part of the solution. Here are the results in a nutshell: people drove less, took transit, and biked more. Read on!

 

. D R I V I N G .

People drove less downtown.

 

 

One of our goals during the SR 99 closure was to prevent gridlock by having fewer cars downtown. We can’t say it enough, Seattle, we couldn’t have done it without the collective whole working together.

Peek the data!

We were able to produce comparable data by counting vehicles that came into downtown Seattle from location points north (at Mercer St) and south (at Holgate St) into the center city and compared the numbers to a baseline period back in September 2018. For every single day that SR 99 was closed, fewer vehicles drove into downtown. See that blue line in the data graphic to the right? That’s the baseline volumes in 2018. The green was the daily volumes during the three-week SR 99 closure. You’re the best, Seattle.

 

. T R A N S I T .

People took transit and shifted their commutes.

 

 

Peek the ridership data!

King County Metro tracked daily ridership along major corridors and on the water taxi. Bus and water taxi ridership varied during the closure, but ridership increased during two of the three weeks compared to January 2018. During each week of the closure, the percent of riders during the midday was higher as compared to the same month last year. That means there was a shift from commute times out of the peak/rush hours towards the midday.

Sound Transit’s Link light rail ridership during the three-week viaduct closure was up 14 percent from last year, to more than 79,000 daily boardings.

 

 

. T E L E C O M M U T I N G . 

People changed their work schedules.

 

 

Based on a survey of some of the largest downtown employers, people used telecommuting as a great way to reduce commute trips downtown. We launched an Alternative Work Arrangement Pilot for Chapter 1 of the Seattle Squeeze. The City previously had 12.5 percent of employees that had alternative work arrangements, which included telework or flexible work hours. Now, 30 percent of Citywide employees are participating in alternative work arrangements, with 38 percent in the downtown core.

 

. B I K I N G .

People biked more.

 

 

Peek the bike data!

The number of people biking to and through downtown increased during the SR 99 closure. We installed bike counters at the Spokane St. Bridge, the Fremont Bridge, the Elliot Bay Trail, and 2nd Ave downtown. We saw 40,000 more trips in January 2019 compared to the same time in 2018.

 

We also expanded our free-floating bike share program and made it permanent. Our data shows that change paid off; we also saw a significant increase in people who used free-floating bike share. Peek the bike share data!

 

. I N F O | C O N T A C T .

Don’t miss a thing.

 

 

Keep up with all things #SeattleSqueeze by visiting our website.

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March 19-26: Lenora Street Pedestrian Bridge closed for overhead viaduct demolition work

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Image courtesy of WSDOT

The Lenora Street Pedestrian Bridge will be closed March 19 – 26 as a safety precaution while crews remove a section of the viaduct overhead. During the closure, a free shuttle will provide rides between the top and bottom of the bridge.

 

For more information see WSDOT’s website here.

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March 9-11: Road work for pedestrian improvements at the intersection of S Myrtle St & Beacon Ave S. 

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Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello are two-way arterials serving south Seattle. The streets link Holly Park and Beacon Hill to Interstate 5 (I-5). Our goal is to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users.

From March 9 to 11, 2019, we’ll be making sub base repairs to the road and pour concrete on Swift Ave S. We will also continue work on pedestrian improvements at the intersection of S Myrtle St and Beacon Ave S.

Here’s what you can expect:

S C H E D U L E

Starting on 7 AM on Saturday, March 9, we will be demolishing concrete on Swift Ave S. This will be followed by a concrete pour as soon as 5 PM and completed by 2 AM. The road will remain closed Sunday to allow the concrete to cure. We’ll return Monday at 12 AM to place temporary asphalt over the road panels. Traffic will return to normal by Monday, March 11 at 6 AM.

 

C L O S U R E | D E T O U R

Northbound lanes on Swift Ave S between S Graham St and Beacon Ave S will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to S Graham St via Beacon Ave S. Traffic will return to normal by Monday, March 11 at 6 AM. Please follow marked pedestrian detours.

 

N O I S E

Expect loud noise, dust, and vibrations while crews are working.

 

T R A N S I T

King County Metro route 107 will be rerouted. For information on changes to King County Metro stops, please visit kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts.

 

P R O J E C T   O U T C O M E

Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello are two-way arterials serving south Seattle. The streets link Holly Park and Beacon Hill to Interstate 5 (I-5). Our goal is to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users.

We’re repaving about 1.75 miles of Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello between S Albro Pl and Martin Luther King Jr Way S. We’ll remove the old top layer of the road, placing new asphalt, and repainting lane lines. We’re also making improvements to the existing bike lane along Swift Ave S / S Myrtle St between S Albro Pl and Martin Luther King Jr Way S by making it wider. There will be some parking consolidation along S Myrtle St east of Beacon Ave S.

 

Want more information about this project?

Visit our website!

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the construction outreach team at swiftmyrtleothello@seattle.gov, or 206.256.5227.

Thanks for your patience as we make these safety improvements.

 

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March 2-4, 2019: Sub base repairs + concrete pour as we make pedestrian improvements at the intersection of S Myrtle St & Beacon Ave S.

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Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello are two-way arterials serving south Seattle. The streets link Holly Park and Beacon Hill to Interstate 5 (I-5). Our goal is to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users. From March 2-4, 2019, we’re finishing up our sub base repairs to the ground for a concrete pour as we make pedestrian improvements at the intersection of S Myrtle St and Beacon Ave S.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

 

S C H E D U  L E

Starting on 7 AM on Saturday, March 2, we will be demolishing concrete on Swift Ave S. This will be followed by a concrete pour as soon as 5 PM and complete by 2 AM. The road will remain closed Sunday to allow the concrete to cure. We’ll return Monday at 12 AM to place temporary asphalt over the road panels. Traffic will return to normal by Monday, March 4 at 6 AM.

 

C L O S U R E  |  D E T O U R

Northbound lanes on Swift Ave S between S Eddy St and Beacon Ave S will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to S Graham St via Beacon Ave S. Traffic will return to normal by Monday, March 4 at 6 AM. Please follow marked pedestrian detours.

 

N O I S E

Expect loud noise, dust, and vibrations while crews are working

 

T R A N S I T

King County Metro route 107 will be rerouted. For information on changes to King County Metro stops, please visit kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts.

 

P R O J E C T  O U T C O M E

Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello are two-way arterials serving south Seattle. The streets link Holly Park and Beacon Hill to Interstate 5 (I-5). Our goal is to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users. We’re repaving about 1.75 miles of Swift Ave S, S Myrtle St, and S Othello between S Albro Pl and Martin Luther King Jr Way S. As part of the repaving, we will be taking off the old top layer of the road, placing new asphalt and repainting the lane lines. In addition to repaving, we’ll also be improving the existing bike lane along Swift Ave S / S Myrtle St between S Albro Pl and Martin Luther King Jr Way S by making it wider. There will be some parking consolidation along S Myrtle St east of Beacon Ave S.

Want more information?

For more information on this project, please visit our project page. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the construction outreach team at swiftmyrtleothello@seattle.gov, or 206.256.5227. Thanks for your patience as we make these safety improvements.

 

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Wed, Feb 27: Local Access Only along 23rd Ave S between S Massachusetts St & S Jackson St.

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This Wednesday, from 9 AM to 3 PM, we’ll be pouring the center lane on 23rd Ave S between S Dearborn St and S Lane St. What this means for you is that when we pour, 23rd Ave S between S Massachusetts St and S Jackson St will be local access only. This means that people who live, work, play, or shop on or near 23rd Ave S in this stretch can continue to do so. All other through traffic will be detoured to Martin Luther King Jr Way S. See below for details. Thanks again for your patience!

What does Local Access Only mean?

If you live, work, shop, or play on or near 23rd Ave S between S Massachusetts St and S Jackson St, you will still be able to get to your destination. Please let the flagger know where you are going and they’ll get you there. Note, travel times may be longer. If you are passing through the area going north on 23rd Ave S, you will be detoured to Martin Luther King Jr Way S.

 

What does this work mean for your driveway?

During the pour, all driveways between S Dearborn St and S Lane St will be not be accessible. If you live on the west side of the street in this stretch, we’re advising you to move your car before 7am on Wednesday and not use your driveway until after 5pm.

If you live on the east side of the street, you should be receiving notification to move your car to a side street and plan to return Friday morning. The reason for this extended closure is because we have to form the new lane on Tuesday, pour it on Wednesday, and then the new concrete needs time to set (harden) on Thursday.

 

What else should you expect?

  • There will be a slight bump in side street traffic on Wednesday.
  • We are placing NO PARKS on S Lane St between 23rd Ave S and 24th Ave S to keep local traffic moving.
  • Expect traffic to be slower than normal in this area.

 

Questions?

Email: 23rdAveCorridor@Seattle.gov
Phone:206-727-8857

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23rd Ave Corridor Project update: S Judkins St reopens this afternoon!

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S Judkins St reopens this afternoon.

Thank you all for your patience! We’re making progress on the 23rd Ave Corridor Project. We plan on reopening the east and west sides of the 23rd Ave S and S Judkins St intersection this afternoon before the evening commute.

As you know, we recently put conduit in along S Judkins St. We needed to pour back the trenches and were able to do that while school was out and there was a break in the weather. There’s more work to do at this intersection so stay tuned.

But for now, you can drive across 23rd Ave S at S Judkins St.

 

Don’t forget! This is what we’re doing.

 

Local access only along 23rd Ave S potentially happening next week.

The contractor still needs to do a center lane pour between S Dearborn and S Lane streets. They would like to do it next week either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. This to say, the pour depends on the weather so we’re keeping an eye on the forecast as it develops and will keep you updated on our plans.

 

What does this mean for you?

What this means for you is that when they pour, 23rd Ave S between S Massachusetts St and S Jackson St will be local access only. This means that people who live, work, play, or shop on or near 23rd Ave S in this stretch can continue to do so. All other through traffic will be detoured to Martin Luther King Jr Way S. If they pour, they’ll do it between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM. See the map below for how to get around during this time. Thanks again for your patience!

For more information:

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm
Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov
Call the project information line: 206.727.8857

 

 

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COMING SOON: Construction will begin for new sidewalks & speed humps on NE 50th St.

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Construction will begin as early as February 25th or as late as March 4th and when it does, NE 50th St will be open to local traffic only until construction completes in May of this year. This project is a result of significant neighborhood support to make NE 50th St more comfortable and walkable for pedestrians.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

Project Outcome

To provide a more comfortable and separate space for people walking on NE 50th St, we’re installing new curbed sidewalks on the south side of the street between 30th and 33rd avenues NE, with curb ramps at each corner. Five speed humps will also be constructed throughout NE 50th St to reduce driving speeds and make it more walkable.

 

Schedule

Construction will begin late February, early March 2019.

  • Crews will work between 7 AM and 5 PM on weekdays.

Construction will be complete and NE 50th St will be open again by the end of May 2019.

The NE 50th St sidewalk project is weather-dependent, and the project schedule is subject to change.

 

Closure

NE 50th St will be closed, except to residents and local businesses on NE 50th St. Parking will not be allowed on NE 50th St during construction, and temporary driveway closures will occur when work is happening next to or in front of driveways.

Adjacent streets, such as 30th Ave NE, and the residential streets, such as University View Place NE, will be open during project construction.

 

Noise

Expect loud noise, dust, and typical construction equipment while crews are working.

 

Want more information?

For more information on this project, please our project website. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our outreach team by emailing amber.berg@seattle.gov or calling 206.684.5283.

 

Thanks for your patience while make these improvements!

 

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#SeattleSqueezeAlert – More Changes to Seattle’s Streets Beginning February 1

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Image credit: Chun Kwan. SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct 2019. Looking north.

Preparing for more changes to traffic patterns downtown.

As we say #GoodbyeViaduct and hello to the new SR #99Tunnel, we’re preparing for more changes to traffic patterns downtown. Read on for details about:

  • The Battery Street closing for good.
  • Planning ahead for the Aurora Ave N detour and construction impacts.
  • Temporary parking restrictions and uniformed police officers – keeping transit and emergency responders moving.
  • Lane changes – be prepared for changes to your commute.

We’re almost there! When the new SR 99 tunnel opens, which is on schedule to open before the morning commute Monday, February 4, traffic patterns will change as travelers encounter this new tunnel and new route options. This will affect everyone who travels to and through downtown Seattle, even if you’re not using the tunnel!

WSDOT’s website for the new SR 99 tunnel, www.99tunnel.com, is your best resource for learning all about the new tunnel. Watch these videos that show you how to use the new tunnel and how connections to downtown will be different. Check it out!

Read on to learn about some upcoming street changes and actions we’re taking to keep people and goods moving safely, including reconfiguring key streets and restricting parking downtown.

 

Bye-bye, Battery Street Tunnel!

This photo shows the three streets – Harrison, Thomas, and John – that will be reconnected as part of the #Realign99 work.

The Battery Street Tunnel will close for good at 10 PM on Friday, February 1. The tunnel is vulnerable to earthquakes, just like the Alaskan Way Viaduct (it’s over 60 years old!), and continuing to use it for any purpose would cost lots of money in restorations and repairs. Additionally, closing the Battery Street Tunnel allows us to “reconnect” streets at the north end of the tunnel that was previously cut off by the approach to the tunnel. Over the next year and a half, John Street and Thomas Street will be reconnected, and Aurora Avenue North rebuilt between Harrison Street and Denny Way. Learn more about the project here!

 

Plan ahead: Aurora Ave N detour and construction impacts.

Traffic Detours: Between Friday, February 1 at 10 PM and the opening of the new SR 99 tunnel, traffic will be detoured off of Aurora Ave N at Valley Street. Please note that 5th Ave N will be closed for Saturday’s Tunnel to Viaduct 8K Run/Walk from 7 AM until the end of the event. Please be aware of these changes to traffic and plan ahead if you’ll be heading either northbound or southbound on Aurora Ave N.

Temporary parking restrictions and uniformed police officers – Keeping transit and emergency responders moving!

During the #Realign99 closure, we restricted parking in key locations and placed uniformed police officers at specific intersections to keep traffic moving and to make room for transit and emergency responders. Since traffic patterns will again be changing when the tunnel opens, we are continuing to restrict parking and keep UPOs in certain locations to maintain that capacity.

The parking restrictions will continue from February 4 for up to two weeks. The parking restrictions are from 6 AM to 7 PM, Monday – Friday.

The uniformed police officer locations are also in place Monday-Friday and will be stationed during the peak morning and evening commute periods: 6 – 10 AM, and 3 – 7 PM.

Click here to view our flyer: Seattle Squeeze Alert – Parking Restrictions and Uniformed Police Officer Locations

Lane Changes – Be prepared for changes to your commute.

Tunnel is open, single NB off-ramp near stadiums still closed.

We reconfigured lanes around downtown to make space for transit and freight vehicles during the Realign 99 closure.

This included a temporary bus-only lane on the Spokane St Viaduct and 4thAve S. This bus lane will remain in place until the new northbound SR 99 off-ramp to S. Dearborn St opens, which will open about one week after the new SR 99 tunnel opens.

We also installed freight and transit-only lane on Alaskan Way during the closure, which will be removed this weekend between February 2 – 3.

Visit King County Metro’s Get Ready site to view bus routes once the new tunnel opens.

We are striping a bus-only lane on Cherry St between 1stand 3rd Ave to keep transit moving eastbound once the S Dearborn St northbound off-ramp from SR 99 is in place.

Now that buses will not be traveling on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, this dedicated bus lane allows these bus lines to keep people moving quickly and efficiently through downtown.

  • This work is scheduled to occur the weekend of February 9 – 10 at the latest but may occur during the week of February 4 to ensure that crews have good weather to restripe this lane. If work occurs over the weekend, it will begin at 5 AM. If work occurs during a weekday, work will begin at 3 AM to be completed before the peak morning commute period begins at 6 AM. Work will take up to two hours and impacts to traffic will be minimal.

 

Why are we making these changes?

These changes are going to make travel times more reliable and help keep people moving during this time of increased traffic. By installing temporary and permanent changes to Seattle’s streets, we will keep transit and vehicle travel reliable and improve our emergency response times as responders address incidents downtown.

 

What does this mean for you?

On-street parking options downtown will be limited. People, businesses, schools, manufacturers, and many others rely on the timely delivery of products and goods, and we want to ensure they move as predictably and efficiently as possible.

If you need to drive, plan ahead and be prepared for your new route and parking locations downtown. Use the Seattle Parking Map to make a plan before you leave. Keep our Vision Zero goal in mind, follow the rules, take a deep breath and travel safely.

This is a great time to try a new commute! Try transit, biking, walking, carpooling or vanpools. View our Tools page at www.seattle.gov/traffic for helpful resources.

We recognize the impacts that parking restrictions can have on local businesses, and we’re here to provide support during this time. We’ll closely monitor our downtown streets to confirm traffic is moving smoothly and adjust as needed. If you have any concerns, please contact our Customer Care Center team at 684-ROAD@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-ROAD.

We’re working hard to make sure we’re keeping people and goods moving safely and efficiently, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we all adjust to this new normal.

Notice of future impacts related to the closure of SR 99 and other projects impacting traffic during the Seattle Squeeze are posted to our blog at www.seattle.gov/traffic. 

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